Rick Parson, 52, Northeast Ohio Regional Director for Hattie Larlham, died April 29 after a long bout with cancer.

Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. May 3 for Rick Parson at Nativity of the Lord Church, 2425 Myersville Road, Akron.

He was an active member of the Green Chamber of Commerce, loved his family, his Harley, music and his Italian heritage. He has supervised the Doggie Day Care and Constant Companion facilities since 2006, programs in which people with developmental disabilities care for dogs and other domestic pets.

“Rick had a real passion for people with disabilities,” his supervisor Sandy Neal said Tuesday. “He always referred to them as a people with special abilities.”

Parson was diagnosed with melanoma while on vacation in 2008, but worked through Friday.

“He’s really been battling this off and on since 2008,” Neal said. “He was having some therapy, went home and took a turn on Saturday morning.”

Over the years, Parson shared details of his illness with clients and coworkers. Grief counselors were on hand at both the Doggie Day Care and Constant Companion facilities Monday and Tuesday.

Parson is survived by his wife, Joyce, children Nick, Larissa, Sandy and Gabriel and grandfather, Kaiden, mother Patricia Parson, brother Jeff and sister Shari. He is preceded in death by his father, Richard Parson.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Nativity of the Lord Church.